FEDERAL GOV. STEM FUNDING 2014

STEM Innovation and Development

FEDERAL GOV. STEM FUNDING 2014

Education, STEM receive boost in federal budget proposal

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) would see a 4.6 percent boost in discretionary funding, to $71.2 billion, under President Obama’s proposed 2014 budget, which focuses on STEM education and emphasizes early education in a proposed partnership with states that would ensure access to high-quality preschools for 4-year-olds.

The budget proposes a “major reorganization effort” that would see ED partner with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other federal agencies to boost the impact of STEM education investments.

Obama has put forth a recommendation for a $150 million STEM Innovation Networks program, which would create effective strategies to boost and strengthen STEM education, direct $35 million to create a STEM Master Teacher Corps, and allocate $80 million to recruit and train STEM teachers for high-need schools.

Those federal investments would go to four areas: K-12 instruction, undergraduate education, graduate fellowships, and education that occurs outside of the classroom. Reorganization efforts will focus on increasing STEM participation among those from underrepresented groups.